LON-PAR .. Plane or train?

[Sdtravel]

Im planning on going by train London to Paris. Then fly to JFK. At this stage i plan to fly via LHR simple because im doing it in J and i can get the AA's 772 refurbished jet (well it looks like it will be no guarantee of course )
Its only an extra $100 to do that. Direct flights with BA or AA use older 744 or unrefurbed planes.

Had thought about getting train back rather than flying but then I would need to get over to Heathrow and with checkins and transfers would be simpler to fly to get a better J class.

 

[anat0l]

One more thing... Given the refugee crisis going on... What happens when trains are cancelled? This is more for my info, I know it's unlikely to affect me.

You might like to read this and associated links: Disruption Compensation | Eurostar

Like air travel, you have rights to compensation under EU regulation if your train experiences delays or is cancelled. Now how much can a rail provider escape or reduce their responsibilities under the provisions due to "exceptional circumstances" is unknown (or at least I don't know).

Either way, if trains get cancelled, whilst you generally have some form of carte blanche for your replacement service, don't forget that there's likely going to be a good couple of hundred people who are in the same situation, overwhelming the same staff.


I guess, if you choose to travel in Eurostar Standard class, it might pay to shop a bit beforehand for a good sandwich and drink, or whatever. Note that once you pass into the secure area of St Pancras, there is basically only one cafe selling some toasties and other standard cafe bric-a-brac, then you have whatever Eurostar offer on board. So for more variety (e.g. sushi, etc.), best to find a place and buy up beforehand.

 

[Virgin Bart]

You might like to read this and associated links: Disruption Compensation | Eurostar

Like air travel, you have rights to compensation under EU regulation if your train experiences delays or is cancelled. Now how much can a rail provider escape or reduce their responsibilities under the provisions due to "exceptional circumstances" is unknown (or at least I don't know).

Either way, if trains get cancelled, whilst you generally have some form of carte blanche for your replacement service, don't forget that there's likely going to be a good couple of hundred people who are in the same situation, overwhelming the same staff.


I guess, if you choose to travel in Eurostar Standard class, it might pay to shop a bit beforehand for a good sandwich and drink, or whatever. Note that once you pass into the secure area of St Pancras, there is basically only one cafe selling some toasties and other standard cafe bric-a-brac, then you have whatever Eurostar offer on board. So for more variety (e.g. sushi, etc.), best to find a place and buy up beforehand.

Great, thank you. M&S it is.

 

[Canny man]

One of the treats of the train for me is that you can take your own food and bev and not have to rely on mass catering. It's incredibly pleasant to have a decent sized table to eat from as the country side whizzes by. I find arriving at a station so much more atmospheric than facing a wait at the luggage carousel. M&S is a good choice for food and wine and also supplies plastic cutlery and glasses to go with its produce.
Also, I'm not a fan of Heathrow. It's expensive to get to and security is so random, one day you hustle through in no time, the next you are held up for an eternity - raising the stress levels and compressing lounge time.

 

[anat0l]

It's expensive to get to and security is so random, one day you hustle through in no time, the next you are held up for an eternity - raising the stress levels and compressing lounge time.

Depends - the tube makes going to LHR rather cheap, though obviously more expensive than a simple zone 1 ticket that would be the tube from your London accommodation to St Pancras.

Don't forget (not a counterpoint, just a reminder) that you must also pass through a security screening at St Pancras. No LAG restrictions. There's generally no priority lines but given that the whole security screening is generally less demanding than at airports, the lines should move sufficiently quickly enough.

You will also clear Schengen (French) passport control at St Pancras, after security screening.

There is a (supposedly simple) lounge if you are travelling in Business Premier, but for the rest you just have the common waiting area. If I recall correctly, you go to the Business Premier lounge after check-in but before security and passport control at St Pancras.

 

[greenfish]

Don't forget (not a counterpoint, just a reminder) that you must also pass through a security screening at St Pancras. No LAG restrictions. There's generally no priority lines but given that the whole security screening is generally less demanding than at airports, the lines should move sufficiently quickly enough.

And they screen all your baggage - as everything is carry-on. I had heaps of bicycle parts with me during my trip in June and had to completely empty my suitcase and repack it at St Pancras, with every part xrayed separately. It wasn't fun.

Look at the whole trip - for us, going to Disneyland Paris, the direct train was unbeatable. But from our south west departure point, St Pancras is a hassle, so the train isn't always the best bet...